Both sides of abortion debate weigh in on Texas 'fetal pain' bill hearing

By Joshua Rubin, CNN

Updated 6:32 PM ET, Mon July 8, 2013

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – State troopers look on as a group in Austin, Texas, protests a new state abortion law in July. Parts of the law were ruled unconstitutional on Monday, October 28 -- a day before they were scheduled to take effect.

Hide Caption

1 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus strikes the gavel after a provisional vote on the abortion measure passed July 9. A lawsuit, filed by Planned Parenthood on behalf of more than a dozen women's health care providers across Texas, alleged that the new abortion limits violate the constitutional rights of women and put unreasonable demands on doctors who perform abortions.

Hide Caption

2 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Supporters of the abortion limits react in the gallery of the Texas House after the measure was provisionally approved July 9. The measure seeks to ban abortions past 20 weeks of gestation, mandate abortion clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers, and tighten usage guidelines for the drug RU486. It would also require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic where they're providing abortion services.

Hide Caption

3 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Opponents of the abortion bill yell outside the Texas House after the bill is provisionally approved.

Hide Caption

4 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, sponsor of the bill, leaves the Texas House floor after the bill passed in July.

Hide Caption

5 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Anti-abortion activists take part in a rosary procession around the state Capitol as the House debates the bill in July.

Hide Caption

6 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – State Sen. Wendy Davis speaks at a news conference outside the state Capitol as the Texas House prepares to begin debate on the bill in July. In late June, Davis blocked the bill with a filibuster, talking for more than 10 hours and running out the clock on the regular legislative session.

Hide Caption

7 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Supporters of the bill listen to speakers July 8 at a rally organized by the Texas Right to Life Organization.

Hide Caption

8 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Abortion rights activists march from the Texas Capitol on July 8.

Hide Caption

9 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Members of the public line up July 8 for an opportunity to speak at a Senate hearing on the proposed bill.

Hide Caption

10 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Republican Sen. Bob Deuell set two pairs of infant shoes on the counter while speaking at a Senate hearing July 8.

Hide Caption

11 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Anti-abortion protesters gather on the ground floor of the state Capitol as abortion rights protesters gather on the balcony of the outdoor rotunda July 8.

Hide Caption

12 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Abortion rights activists react as an anti-abortion group prays below them during the July 8 Senate hearing.

Hide Caption

13 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – Opponents of the abortion bill walk in circles around supporters of the bill as a committee holds hearings at the state Capitol on July 2.

Hide Caption

14 of 28

Photos: Controversial Texas abortion bill 28 photos

Controversial Texas abortion bill – A man blows a horn as supporters and opponents of an abortion bill gather near a hearing for the bill on July 2.

Story highlights

The Legislature is in special session after Sen. Wendy Davis successfully filibustered the bill

The divisiveness of the abortion debate was on full display in the Texas statehouse Monday as SB1, also known as the fetal pain bill, was opened to public comment by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Thousands began lining up early in the morning, and the testimony was expected to last more than 16 hours.

The measure seeks to ban abortions after 20 weeks of gestation, the point at which some claim fetuses begin to feel pain.

Republican state Sen. Bob Deuell acknowledged that there are conflicting opinions in the medical community about fetal pain but remains a firm supporter of the bill. "Are we willing to take a chance that a baby at 20 weeks can feel pain?

There was little to no middle ground in the debate. Those in favor of abortion rights accused Republicans of creating a bill based on religion rather than science. Anti-abortion activists accuse the other side of using personal liberty to justify infanticide.

Throughout the day the committee called upon dozens of speakers, seating those with opposing views right next to each other.

"God says, 'I knew you before you were even knitted in your mother's womb.' That baby is a baby from the beginning. There is no way that you need scientific evidence to know that that baby feels pain," she said. "We have laws on the books now that say if you murder a pregnant woman you are charged with two murders ... so what is the difference here?"

But for Sarah Shimmer, the bill is an egregious violation of women's rights. "I am a Republican woman, but regardless of what my personal beliefs and experiences are, my personal reproductive choices do not give me the right to restrict other women."

In addition to banning abortions after 20 weeks, the bill would require clinics that provide abortions to become ambulatory surgical centers; would tighten guidelines for administering the drug RU486, which can terminate early pregnancies; and would require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic at which they're providing abortion services.

Critics of the measure said it would shut down most abortion clinics in Texas, denying access to many, while proponents say it would raise the standard of care for women.

The initial bill failed on June 25 after a dramatic day and night in which state Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat, talked for more than 10 hours in an attempt to run out the clock on the legislative session.

But Gov. Rick Perry called a special session so the legislature could take up the measure again. Perry's announcement that he would not be running for re-election fueled speculation about whether Davis can help rejuvenate the Texas Democratic party, which hasn't won a statewide election since 1994.

Davis has not yet announced any plans and released a statement congratulating Perry on his lifetime of public service adding, "I feel confident the next campaign will sort itself out in due time."

Planned Parenthood was quick to condemn the governor in a statement: "Rick Perry has done more to hurt women than any governor in history. Perry's legacy is endangering women's health in order to score political points with the far-right tea party fringe."

The Senate committee is expected to vote on the bill after the House version of the bill is brought to the floor. That is expected to happen Tuesday, when the legislature reconvenes.